Wallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction

ABSTRACT

A wallet consolidator to warehouse information pertaining to at least one card and to retrieve the warehoused information to facilitate a transaction is provided. An embodiment of a wallet consolidator can include a housing, one or more input devices positioned to receive information, and a memory device positioned to store at least a portion of the information received by the one or more input devices. The wallet consolidator can also include a radio frequency wireless communication interface associated with the housing and adapted to communicate with a point-of-sale terminal thereby to provide at least a portion of the information stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminal, a display screen, and a controller positioned within the housing in communication with and to control each of the one or more input devices, the memory device, the radio frequency wireless communication interface, and the display screen.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of and claims priority to and thebenefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/923,617, filed Aug. 6,2001, titled “Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing aTransaction Using a Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,885which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/618,407,filed Jul. 18, 2000, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No.6,293,462, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.09/087,193, filed May 29, 1998, titled “Wallet Consolidator,” now U.S.Pat. No. 6,131,811, each incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of The Invention

The present invention pertains in general to the use of electronic smartcards for the storage of information pertaining to electronic commerceand consumer identification, and in particular, but not by way oflimitation, to an apparatus for the warehousing and retrieval ofinformation pertaining to credit cards, debit cards, identificationcards, and other selected data.

2. Description of Related Art

In today's electronic commerce there has been a proliferation in the useof various types of credit, debit, identification, and other types ofauthorization cards. For example, an average individual is likely tocarry a driver's license, several credit and debit cards, anidentification card for access to a health club, an identification cardto gain access to a place of employment, and an access card to gainentry into a parking garage, among others. Furthermore, with advances inelectronic commerce, smart cards are likely to replace paper and coinmoney resulting in an additional card for consumers to carry. Each ofthese cards typically incorporates a magnetic stripe or bar code tofacilitate easy recognition of the card and to store various types ofdata. Although the use of these cards allows for easy and efficientelectronic commerce, the number of such cards quickly becomes cumbersomeand many individuals find carrying the large number of cardsinconvenient.

Attempts have been made to use a single smart card to hold the variousinformation contained on several cards. These attempts, however, involvethe downloading of information from the smart card provider and do notallow a smart card user to control the contents of the device by addingadditional information from newly issued cards or removing informationfrom discontinued cards.

It would be advantageous, therefore, to devise an apparatus forconsolidating the various cards, and other types of information, whichindividuals typically carry in a wallet or purse. It would further beadvantageous if such an apparatus stored the information in a centrallocation and facilitated the use of a single multi-purpose card. Itwould still further be advantageous if such an apparatus allowed theuser of the apparatus the ability to control the stored information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, embodiments of the present inventionadvantageously provide a wireless device or apparatus, also known as awallet consolidator, capable of warehousing digitized information storedon various types of credit, debit, identification, and other types ofauthorization cards, including identification information, some or allof which to be delivered to various computing devices and possibly aportion to a device operator located with the computer device. Accordingto an embodiment of the present invention, a wallet consolidator towarehouse information pertaining to at least one card and to retrievethe warehoused information to facilitate a transaction at apoint-of-sale terminal can include, for example, a housing, one or moreinput devices associated with the housing and positioned to receiveinformation, and a memory device associated with then housing andpositioned to store at least a portion of the information received bythe one or more input devices. One or more input devices, for example,can be positioned to receive information associated with the at leastone card so that at least a portion of the information received by theone or more input devices enables a point-of-sale transaction. The atleast one card can be, for example, a credit card, a debit card, anidentification card, or an electronic coupon. The one or more inputdevices, for example, can include a magnetic stripe reader/writer forreading and writing magnetic stripes, a bar code scanner for scanningbar codes, a keypad, a touch sensitive display screen, or an inputcluster among others, to input user selections and commands.

An embodiment of the wallet consolidator can also include a radiofrequency wireless communication interface associated with the housingand adapted to communicate with a point-of-sale terminal thereby toprovide at least a portion of the information stored in the memorydevice to the point-of-sale terminal, a display screen, and a controllerpositioned within the housing in communication with each of the one ormore input devices, the memory device, the radio frequency wirelesscommunication interface, and the display screen. The display screen, forexample, can be configured to display a menu of functions to a user. Themenu of functions, can, for instance, include one or more of: addingcard information, deleting card information, duplicating information,transferring information, moving cash, and accessing information. Theinformation received by the one or more input devices, can include, forexample, identification information. Moreover, the controller, accordingto an embodiment of the wallet consolidator can be positioned, forexample, to control input of the information into the memory device ofthe wallet consolidator through the one or more input devices, displayof the menu of functions to a user through the display screen, retrievalof at least a portion of the information from the memory device, andoutput of at least a portion of the information stored in the memorydevice through the radio frequency wireless communication interface tothe point-of-sale terminal. A user, for example, can select the at leasta portion of the information using one of the one or more input devicesand position the wallet consolidator in communication with thepoint-of-sale terminal to enable a point-of-sale transaction responsiveto the point-of-sale terminal receiving the at least a portion of theinformation communicated thereto from the wallet consolidator to therebyfacilitate a transaction at the point-of-sale terminal.

In another embodiment of the present invention, for example, the one ormore input devices can be, for example, connected to the housing and canincluding at least one keypad. Additionally, the memory device can be,for example a memory positioned within the housing, and the radiofrequency wireless communication interface can be, for instance,connected to the housing. Moreover, the display screen can be connectedto the housing and positioned on a same face of the housing as the atleast one keypad, and the controller can be positioned within thehousing and can be in communication with each of the one or more inputdevices, the memory, the display screen, and the wireless communicationinterface. Also according to an embodiment of the present invention, theat least a portion of the information stored in the memory device of thewallet consolidator can be transmitted to various computing devices suchas, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals, anddatabases, positioned to process a point-of-sale transaction effectuatedpursuant to the at least a portion of the information. The at least aportion of the information stored in the memory device of the walletconsolidator can be communicated to the various computing devices via adata interface, a infrared transceiver, or a radio frequency wirelesscommunication interface.

More specifically, according to an embodiment of the present invention,the one or more input devices can be associated with the housing andpositioned to receive information associated with at least one card fromone or both of a remote database and a user so that at least a portionof the information received by one of the one or more input devicesenables a transaction. Additionally, for example, the radio frequencywireless communication interface can be associated with the housing andadapted to be positioned to communicate with a remote database therebyto provide the at least a portion of the information stored in thememory to a remote database. Also according to an embodiment of thepresent invention, the controller can be can be positioned to controlinput of the information into the memory of the wallet consolidatorthrough the one or more input devices, display the menu of functions toa user through the display screen, retrieve the at least a portion ofthe information from the memory, and output the at least a portion ofthe information stored in the memory through the radio frequencywireless communication interface to a remote database. A user, forexample, can select the at least a portion of the information using oneof the one or more input devices and position the wallet consolidator incommunication with a remote database to enable a transaction responsiveto a remote database receiving the at least a portion of the informationcommunicated thereto from the wallet consolidator to thereby facilitatea transaction.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the oneor more input devices can include at least on keypad, and the displayscreen can be connected to the housing and beneficially positioned on asame face of the housing as the at least one keypad. Furthermore, theinformation displayed on the display screen can comprise informationfrom the memory device being displayed as controlled by the controller.Additionally, the information received by the one or more input devicescan include information included on a plurality of different cards, thecards being selected from the group of credit cards, debit cards,identification cards, and electronic coupons. Also according to anembodiment of the present invention, the one or more input devices canbe adapted to receive an input of a passcode from a user to gain accessto the wallet consolidator so that the controller displays the menu offunctions after the user gains access to the wallet consolidator byentering the passcode through the one of the one or more input devices.Moreover, the one or more input devices, for example, can furtherinclude a touch sensitive display screen associated with the displayscreen, associated with the housing, and positioned adjacent to the atleast one keypad. In an embodiment of the present invention, the atleast one keypad can comprise a first keypad, and the touch sensitivedisplay screen can include a second keypad.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the memorydevice can be configured to have sufficient memory to store a digitizedimage. The digitized image can include, for instance, a digitized imageof a signature, a portrait, the at least one card, and a bar code. Thecontroller can, for example, be configured to operably store thedigitized image in the memory device of the wallet consolidator and todisplay the digitized image on the display screen of the walletconsolidator. Furthermore, the digitized image displayed on the displayscreen can be adapted to be used at a point-of-sale terminal. Thecontroller, for example can be further configured to store a digitizedimage of a bar code in the memory device of the wallet consolidator andcan be adapted to display the digitized image of a bar code on thedisplay screen so that the displayed digitized image of a bar code canbe scannable by a bar code scanner. In another embodiment of the presentinvention, the information stored in the memory device of the walletconsolidator can include at least one bar code and the controller can beconfigured to operably display the bar code on the display screen tothereby define a displayed bar code image. The displayed bar code image,for example, can be adapted to be scannable by a bar code scanner.

According to an embodiment of the wallet consolidator, in its mostgeneralized configuration, the one or more input devices can include,but is not limited to, one or more of the following: a magnetic stripecard reader, a bar code reader, a keypad, a touch screen, a smart cardreader, a kiosk, a memory card, a telephony interface, a wirelessinterface, a wireline communication interface, a wireless communicationinterface, an infrared (IR) interface, and a radio frequency (RF)interface. The memory device can include, but is not limited to, one ormore of the following: semiconductor memory, a smart card (contact,contactless, or hybrid), a memory card (portable flash memory), randomaccess memory (RAM), magnetic memory, a hard disk, a magnetic tape, anoptical memory device, and an optical disc. Also according to anembodiment of the present invention, the wallet consolidator caninclude, for example, a communication interface. The communicationinterface can include, but is not limited to, one or more of thefollowing: a data interface, a telephony interface, a wirelessinterface, a wireline communication interface, a wireless communicationinterface, a radio frequency (RF) interface, an infrared (IR) interface,and a display configured for displaying scanable bar codes.

To store information in the wallet consolidator, for example, oralternatively in a smart card interfaced to the wallet consolidator,information can be read from magnetic stripes on various types of cardssuch as, but not limited to, credit, debit, and identification cards. Abar code scanner allows a bar code to be scanned from a card and storedin the memory device. Additionally, images of the cards including, butnot limited to, signatures and portraits can be downloaded, and withsufficient memory, stored for future use. A user can retrieveinformation using the one or more input devices for use in, for example,a point-of-sale transaction. The stored images can be retrieved anddisplayed on a display screen, including a bar code, which can bescanned by a bar code scanner.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include an one or more input devices positioned toreceive information stored on at least one card, a memory deviceconnected to the one or more input devices to store the informationreceived by the input device, and a communication interface connected tothe memory device and positioned to transmit at least a portion of theinformation stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminallocated at a point-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positionedto process a transaction responsive to the at least a portion of theinformation. The information can include, for example, accountidentification information pertaining to at least one of the following:one or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or moreidentification cards, one or more electronic coupons, one or moremedical records, one or more health club membership accounts, or one ormore food stamp accounts. Accordingly, the at least one card can includeone or more credit cards, one or more debit cards, one or moreidentification cards, one or more electronic coupons, one or moremedical record cards, one or more health club identification accesscards, one or more employment identification access cards, one or moreparking garage access cards, or one or more food stamp identificationcards. The information can also include driver's license data takenfrom, for example, a driver's license card. Further, the information caninclude a digitized image of the at least one card, to thereby providefurther functionality. Advantageously, the communication interface caninclude a wireless communication interface such as, for example, awireless interface, a wireless communication interface, or a radiofrequency (RF) wireless communication interface, to thereby enhancepersonal mobility.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a walletconsolidator includes a controller positioned to control operation ofthe wallet consolidator, one or more input devices in communication withthe controller and positioned to receive a copy of identificationinformation stored on at least one card, a memory device incommunication with the controller and positioned to store theidentification information received by the one or more input devices,and a communication interface in communication with the controller andpositioned to transmit at least a portion of the identificationinformation stored in the memory device to a point-of-sale terminallocated at a point-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positionedto process a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the at least aportion of the identification information. According to an embodiment ofthe wallet consolidator, the information can include identificationinformation contained on the at least one card, and the communicationinterface can be wireless and can include, for example, a wirelessinterface, a wireless communication interface, or a radio frequency (RF)wireless communication interface, to thereby enhance personal mobility.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include one or more input devices positioned to receiveinformation stored on at least one card, a memory device connected tothe input device to store the information received by the input device,and a wireless communication interface connected to the memory deviceand positioned to transmit at least a portion of the information storedin the memory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at apoint-of-sale. The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to process atransaction responsive to the at least a portion of the information.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include an one or more input devices positioned toreceive information stored on at least one card, a memory deviceconnected to the one or more input devices to store the informationreceived by the one or more input devices, and a communication interfaceconnected to the memory device and positioned to effectuatecommunication of at least a portion of the information stored in thememory device to a point-of-sale terminal located at a point-of-salewhen the point-of-sale terminal is positioned to receive the at least aportion of the information from the wallet consolidator for use in apoint-of-sale transaction. The communication interface can include, forexample, a data interface, a telephone interface, an infraredtransceiver, a wireless communication interface, or a radio frequency(RF) wireless communication interface.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include a controller positioned to control operation ofthe wallet consolidator, one or more input devices in communication withthe controller and positioned to receive information contained on atleast one card, a memory device in communication with the controller andpositioned to store the information received by the one or more inputdevices, and a wireless communication interface in communication withthe controller and positioned to interface with a point-of-sale terminallocated at a point-of-sale to provide at least a portion of theinformation stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminal.The point-of-sale terminal can be positioned to enable a transactionresponsive to receiving the at least a portion of the information.

According to another embodiment of a wallet consolidator, the walletconsolidator can include a controller positioned to control operation ofthe wallet consolidator, one or more input devices in communication withthe controller and positioned to receive information contained on atleast one card, a memory device in communication with the controller andpositioned to store the information received by the input device, and awireless communication interface in communication with the controller.The wireless communication interface is adapted to be positioned tointerface or to effectuate communication with a point-of-sale terminallocated at a point-of-sale to provide at least a portion of theinformation stored in the memory device to the point-of-sale terminalwhen the wallet consolidator is positioned adjacent the point-of-saleterminal to thereby enable a transaction responsive to receiving the atleast a portion of the information.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of theinvention, as well as others which will become apparent, may beunderstood in more detail, a more particular description of theinvention briefly summarized above may be had by reference to theembodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings,which foam a part of this specification. It is to be noted, however,that the drawings illustrate only various embodiments of the inventionand are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention's scopeas it may include other effective embodiments as well.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of the wallet consolidator;

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a preferred method for consolidating cardinformation using the wallet consolidator described in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a wallet consolidator consistent with apreferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate preferredembodiments of the invention. This invention may, however, be embodiedin many different forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided sothat this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fullyconvey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Likenumbers refer to like elements throughout, the prime notation, if used,indicates similar elements in alternative embodiments.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a functional block diagramof a wallet consolidator shown generally at 100. The functionalcomponents of the wallet consolidator 100 can include a controller 110,a memory device 120, a user input cluster 130, a data interface 140, akeypad 150, a telephone interface 160, a smart card interface 170, a barcode scanner 180, an infrared (IR) transceiver 190, a display screen200, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver 210, and a magnetic stripereader/writer 220.

The controller 110 controls the overall operation of the walletconsolidator 100 including the coordination of the various functionalblocks. The magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 is used to read and writeinformation from and to magnetic stripes used on credit cards, debitcards, and identification cards among others. Information read from themagnetic stripes by the magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 can be storedin the memory device 120 of the wallet consolidator 100. In analternative embodiment, the information can be stored in a memory devicelocated within a smart card which is commonly known in the industry. Insituations where the information from the magnetic stripe is stored inthe memory device of the smart card, the information can be written intothe memory of the smart card using the smart card interface 170. Thesmart card interface 170 can effectuate reading and writing from and tothe smart card.

A keypad 150 can be used as a user input device for inputtinginformation or indicating selections and actions to the walletconsolidator 100. In an embodiment of the present invention, the keypad150 is a numeric keypad, however; in an alternative embodiment thekeypad 150 is an alphanumeric keypad. The user input cluster 130provides an additional user input device for communicating selectionsand actions to the wallet consolidator 100. While it is understood thatthe user input cluster 130 can have any number of input buttons, apreferred configuration includes an up and a down button for movingthrough options provided to the user on the display screen 200, a deletebutton for removing items from the display screen, and an activatebutton for making a selection or enabling an action by the walletconsolidator 100.

The bar code scanner 180 allows a user to scan a bar code on the face ofidentification, credit, debit, and other types of cards and to store thebar code in the memory device 120 of the wallet consolidator, oralternatively, in the memory device of the smart card. In either event,the user can select the bar code for display on the display screen 200such that the bar code, as displayed on the display screen 200, isreadable by a bar code scanner.

In addition to displaying items stored in the memory device 120 of thewallet consolidator 100, or alternatively the memory device of the smartcard, the display screen 200 can be used for programming, or otherwisecontrolling, the operation of the wallet consolidator 100. For example,the display screen 200, in conjunction with the keypad 150 or the userinput cluster 130, can be used by the user to input a passcode to gainaccess to the wallet consolidator 100. In an alternative embodiment, thekeypad 150 can be effectuated using a touch sensitive display screen200.

After gaining access to the wallet consolidator 100, the controller 110can display a menu of functions on the display screen 200 and the usercan make a selection by either using the user input cluster 130 toscroll through and select an option or by directly selecting an optionusing the keypad 150. The types of options can include, but are notlimited to, selecting a card to add or delete, duplicating information,transferring data, moving cash, or accessing various types ofinformation such as electronic coupons, identification information, ormedical records among others. Based on the selected option, the walletconsolidator 100, via the display screen 200, can traverse an actiontree which instructs the user on the use of the wallet consolidator 100.

The data interface 140 and telephone interface 160 can effectuatecommunication between the wallet consolidator 100 and various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumbterminals, and databases. The data interface 140 can use a serial dataport, a parallel data port, or any other data communication technique.In a similar fashion, the telephone interface 160 can allowcommunication via a wireline or wireless telecommunication network.Furthermore, the infrared transceiver 190 and the radio frequencytransceiver 210 can effectuate wireless communication between the walletconsolidator 100 and various computing devices such as, but not limitedto, point-of-sale terminals, dumb terminals, and databases, which areequipped with a similar infrared transceiver or radio frequencytransceiver.

The wallet consolidator 100, according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, can allow an individual to swipe his or her credit, debit,identification, or other type cards through the magnetic stripereader/writer 220 and store the information contained in the magneticstripe in the memory device 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, oralternatively, in the memory device of the smart card. The walletconsolidator 100 can also allow an individual to scan a bar code on acard using the bar code scanner 180 and store the bar code in the walletconsolidator 100, or alternatively in the memory device of the smartcard. Furthermore, the individual can download the image of the cards orother cards which do not have a magnetic stripe and, with sufficientmemory, store a digitized image in the memory device 120 of the walletconsolidator 100, or alternatively in the memory device of the smartcard. Additionally, other types of information can be stored in eitherthe memory device 120 of the wallet consolidator 100 or the memorydevice of the smart card. Among other types of information, items suchas electronic coupons or food stamp balances can be stored and thenredeemed during a point-of-sale transaction. Communication with variouscomputing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals,dumb terminals, and databases, can be effectuated using the telephoneinterface 160, the radio frequency transceiver 210, the infraredtransceiver 190, or the display screen 200.

Referring additionally now to FIG. 2, there is illustrated a flowdiagram of a preferred computer implemented method for consolidatingcard information using the wallet consolidator 100 described in FIG. 1.Information stored on magnetic stripes can be entered into the walletconsolidator 100 by swiping the subject identification, credit, debit,or other type of card through the magnetic stripe reader/writer 220 toread the information from the magnetic stripe of the subject card (step300). Alternatively, the information can be entered into the walletconsolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190, or the radiofrequency transceiver 210. The entered information can be stored in thememory device 120 of the wallet consolidator 100, or alternatively, inthe memory device of the smart card (step 310).

Similarly, bar codes from the cards can be scanned (step 320) and thebar codes can be stored in the memory device 120 of the walletconsolidator 100, or alternatively, in the memory device of the smartcard (step 330). Alternatively, the information can be entered into thewallet consolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190, or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

Still further, other information such as electronic coupons or imagessuch as portraits and signatures can be downloaded into the walletconsolidator 100 (step 332) and stored in the memory device 120 of thewallet consolidator 100, or alternatively, in the memory device of thesmart card (step 334). The information can be downloaded into the walletconsolidator 100 via the data interface 140, the keypad 150, thetelephone interface 160, the infrared transceiver 190, or the radiofrequency transceiver 210.

To retrieve magnetic stripe information from the wallet consolidator100, the user can select the desired information using either the userinput cluster 130 or the keypad 150 (step 340). Once the information hasbeen selected, the information can be written onto a magnetic strip ofthe smart card or other multi-use card (step 350). Alternatively, theinformation which was selected can be communicated to various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumbterminals, and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190, or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

Similarly, the user can select a desired bar code using either the userinput cluster 130 or the keypad 150 (step 360), and the selected imagecan be displayed on the display screen 200 (step 370). Alternatively,the selected information can be communicated to various computingdevices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals, dumbterminals, and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190, or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

Still further, the user can select stored information, includingdownloaded information (step 380), and display the selected information(step 390) or download the selected information (step 400) to variouscomputing devices such as, but not limited to, point-of-sale terminals,dumb terminals, and databases via the data interface 140, the telephoneinterface 160, the infrared transceiver 190, or the radio frequencytransceiver 210.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a perspective view of awallet consolidator 100. The wallet consolidator, shown generally at100, can include a housing 105, the controller 110 which is locatedinternally and not shown, the memory device 120 also located internallyand not shown, the user input cluster 130, the data interface 140, thekeypad 150, the telephone interface 160, the smart card interface 170,the bar code scanner 180, the infrared transceiver 190, the displayscreen 200, the radio frequency transceiver 210, and the magnetic stripereader/writer 220.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/932,049, filed Oct. 31, 2007, titled “Wallet Consolidator and RelatedMethods of Processing a Transaction Using a Wallet Consolidator”; U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/923,617, filed Aug. 6, 2001, titled“Wallet Consolidator and Related Methods of Processing a TransactionUsing a Wallet Consolidator” now U.S. Pat. No. 7,349,885; U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/618,407, filed Jul. 18, 2000, titled “WalletConsolidator,” now U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,462; and U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 09/087,193, filed May 29, 1998, titled “Wallet Consolidator,”now U.S. Pat. No. 6,131,811, each incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed a typicalpreferred embodiment of the invention, and although specific terms areemployed, the terms are used in a descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation. The invention has been described in considerabledetail with specific reference to these illustrated embodiments. It willbe apparent, however, that various modifications and changes can be madewithin the spirit and scope of the invention as described in theforegoing specification and as defined in the appended claims.

1. A wallet consolidator to warehouse information pertaining to at leastone card and to retrieve the warehoused information to facilitate atransaction at a point-of-sale terminal positioned remote from thewallet consolidator, the wallet consolidator comprising: a housing to becarried by a user; one or more input devices associated with the housingand being positioned to receive information, the information beingassociated with one or more of: at least one card and at least oneelectronic coupon, at least a portion of the information being receivedby one of the one or more input devices to thereby further enable apoint-of-sale transaction, and the at least one card being selected fromthe group of: credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, coupons,and barcodes; memory associated with the housing and positioned to storeat least a portion of the information received by the one or more inputdevices; a radio frequency wireless communication interface associatedwith the housing and positioned to communicate with a point-of-saleterminal thereby to provide the at least a portion of the informationstored in the memory to the point-of-sale terminal; a display screen todisplay a menu of functions to a user, the functions including one ormore of: adding card information, deleting card information, duplicatinginformation, transferring information, moving cash, and accessinginformation; and a controller located internally within the housing, incommunication with each of the one or more input devices, the memory,the display screen, and the wireless communication interface, andpositioned to control input of the information into the memory of thewallet consolidator through the one or more input devices, display ofthe menu of functions to a user through the display screen, retrieval ofthe at least a portion of the information from the memory, and output ofthe at least a portion of the information stored in the memory throughthe radio frequency wireless communication interface to thepoint-of-sale terminal when a user selects the at least a portion of theinformation using one of the one or more input devices and positions thewallet consolidator in communication with the point-of-sale terminal toenable a point-of-sale transaction responsive to the point-of-saleterminal receiving the at least a portion of the informationcommunicated thereto from the wallet consolidator to thereby facilitatea transaction at the point-of-sale terminal.
 2. A wallet consolidator asdefined in claim 1, wherein the information received by one of the oneor more input devices comprises identification information; wherein theinformation displayed on the display screen comprises information fromthe memory being displayed as controlled by the controller; wherein theone or more input devices includes at least one keypad; and wherein thedisplay screen is connected to the housing and positioned on a same faceof the housing as the at least one keypad.
 3. A wallet consolidator asdefined in claim 2, wherein the one or more input devices furtherincludes a touch sensitive display screen associated with the displayscreen, associated with the housing, and positioned adjacent to the atleast one keypad.
 4. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 3,wherein the at least one keypad comprises a first keypad; and whereinthe touch sensitive display screen includes a second keypad.
 5. A walletconsolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the information received bythe one or more input devices includes information included on aplurality of different cards, the plurality of different cards beingselected from the group of credit cards, debit cards, identificationcards, coupons, and barcodes.
 6. A wallet consolidator as defined inclaim 1, wherein one of the one or more input devices operably receivesan input of a passcode from a user to gain access to the walletconsolidator so that the controller displays the menu of functions afterthe user gains access to the wallet consolidator by entering thepasscode through the one of the one or more input devices.
 7. A walletconsolidator as defined in claim 1, wherein the memory at least hassufficient memory to store a digitized image, the digitized image beingselected from the group of a signature, a portrait, the at least onecard, and a bar code; and wherein the controller operably stores thedigitized image in the memory device of the wallet consolidator.
 8. Awallet consolidator as defined in claim 7, wherein the controlleroperably displays the digitized image on the display screen to therebydefine a displayed digitized image; and wherein the displayed digitizedimage is usable at the point-of-sale terminal.
 9. A wallet consolidatoras defined in claim 1, wherein the memory at least has sufficient memoryto store a digitized image of a bar code; and wherein the controlleroperably stores the digitized image of a bar code in the memory of thewallet consolidator and operably displays the digitized image of a barcode on the display screen to thereby define a displayed digitized imageof a bar code, the displayed digitized image of a bar code being adaptedto be scannable by a bar code scanner.
 10. A wallet consolidator asdefined in claim 1, wherein the information stored in the memoryincludes at least one bar code; and wherein the controller operablydisplays the bar code on the display screen to thereby define adisplayed bar code image, the displayed bar code image being scannableby a bar code scanner.
 11. A wallet consolidator to facilitate atransaction at a remote point-of-sale terminal, the wallet consolidatorcomprising: a housing to be carried by a user; one or more input devicesconnected to the housing and being positioned to receive information,the information being associated with one or more of: at least one cardand at least one electronic coupon, at least a portion of theinformation being received by one of the one or more input devices tothereby further enable a point-of-sale transaction, the one or moreinput devices including at least one keypad, and the at least one cardbeing selected from the group of credit cards, debit cards,identification cards, coupons, and barcodes; memory positioned withinthe housing and positioned to store at least a portion of theinformation received by the one or more input devices; a radio frequencywireless communication interface connected to the housing and positionedto communicate with a remote point-of-sale terminal thereby to providethe at least a portion of the information stored in the memory to theremote point-of-sale terminal; a display screen to display a menu offunctions to a user, the functions including one or more of: adding cardinformation, deleting card information, duplicating information,transferring information, moving cash, and accessing information, thedisplay screen being connected to the housing and positioned on a sameface of the housing as the at least one keypad; and a controller locatedinternally within the housing, in communication with each of the one ormore input devices, the memory, the display screen, and the wirelesscommunication interface, and positioned to control input of theinformation into the memory of the wallet consolidator through the oneor more input devices, display of the menu of functions to a userthrough the display screen, retrieval of the at least a portion of theinformation from the memory, and output of the at least a portion of theinformation stored in the memory through the radio frequency wirelesscommunication interface to the remote point-of-sale terminal when a userselects the at least a portion of the information using one of the oneor more input devices and positions the wallet consolidator incommunication with the remote point-of-sale terminal to enable apoint-of-sale transaction responsive to the remote point-of-saleterminal receiving the at least a portion of the informationcommunicated thereto from the wallet consolidator to thereby facilitatea transaction at the remote point-of-sale terminal.
 12. A walletconsolidator as defined in claim 11, wherein the information received byone of the one or more input devices comprises identificationinformation; and wherein the information displayed on the display screencomprises information from the memory being displayed as controlled bythe controller.
 13. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 11,wherein the information received by the one or more input devicesincludes information included on a plurality of different cards, theplurality of different cards being selected from the group of: creditcards, debit cards, identification cards, coupons, and barcodes.
 14. Awallet consolidator as defined in claim 11, wherein one of the one ormore input devices operably receives an input of a passcode from a userto gain access to the wallet consolidator so that the controllerdisplays the menu of functions after the user gains access to the walletconsolidator by entering the passcode through the one of the one or moreinput devices.
 15. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 11, whereinthe memory at least has sufficient memory to store a digitized image,the digitized image being selected from the group of a signature, aportrait, the at least one card, and a bar code; and wherein thecontroller operably stores the digitized image in the memory of thewallet consolidator.
 16. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 15,wherein the controller operably displays the digitized image on thedisplay screen to thereby define a displayed digitized image; andwherein the displayed digitized image is usable at the point-of-saleterminal.
 17. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 11, wherein thememory at least has sufficient memory to store a digitized image of abar code; and wherein the controller operably stores the digitized imageof a bar code in the memory of the wallet consolidator and operablydisplays the digitized image of a bar code on the display screen tothereby define a displayed digitized image of a bar code, the displayeddigitized image of a bar code being scannable by a bar code scanner. 18.A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 11, wherein the informationstored in the memory includes at least one bar code; and wherein thecontroller operably displays the bar code on the display screen tothereby define a displayed bar code image, the displayed bar code imagebeing scannable by a bar code scanner.
 19. A wallet consolidator asdefined in claim 11, wherein the one or more input devices furtherincludes a touch sensitive display screen associated with the displayscreen, associated with the housing, and positioned adjacent to the atleast one keypad.
 20. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 19,wherein the at least one keypad comprises a first keypad; and whereinthe touch sensitive display screen includes a second keypad.
 21. Awallet consolidator to facilitate a transaction, the wallet consolidatorcomprising: a housing to be carried by a user; one or more input devicesassociated with the housing and being positioned to receive information,the information being received from one or more of: a remote databaseand a user, the information also being associated with one or more of:at least one card and at least one electronic coupon, at least a portionof the information being received by one of the one or more inputdevices to thereby further enable a transaction, and the at least onecard being selected from the group of: credit cards, debit cards,identification cards, and electronic coupons, and barcodes; memoryassociated with the housing and positioned to store at least a portionof the information received by the one or more input devices; a radiofrequency wireless communication interface associated with the housingand positioned to communicate with a remote database thereby to providethe at least a portion of the information stored in the memory to aremote database; a display screen to display a menu of functions to auser, the functions including one or more of: adding card information,deleting card information, duplicating information, transferringinformation, moving cash, and accessing information; and a controllerlocated internally within the housing, in communication with each of theone or more input devices, the memory, the display screen, and thewireless communication interface, and positioned to control input of theinformation into the memory of the wallet consolidator through the oneor more input devices, display of the menu of functions to a userthrough the display screen, retrieval of the at least a portion of theinformation from the memory, and output of the at least a portion of theinformation stored in the memory through the radio frequency wirelesscommunication interface to a remote database when a user selects the atleast a portion of the information using one of the one or more inputdevices and positions the wallet consolidator in communication with aremote database to enable a transaction responsive to a remote databasereceiving the at least a portion of the information communicated theretofrom the wallet consolidator to thereby facilitate a transaction.
 22. Awallet consolidator as defined in claim 21, wherein the informationreceived by one of the one or more input devices comprisesidentification information; and wherein the information displayed on thedisplay screen comprises information from the memory being displayed ascontrolled by the controller.
 23. A wallet consolidator as defined inclaim 21, wherein the information received by the one or more inputdevices includes information included on a plurality of different cards,the plurality of different cards being selected from the group of:credit cards, debit cards, identification cards, coupons, and barcodes.24. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 23, wherein one of the oneor more input devices operably receives an input of a passcode from auser to gain access to the wallet consolidator so that the controllerdisplays the menu of functions after the user gains access to the walletconsolidator by entering the passcode through the one of the one or moreinput devices.
 25. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 21, whereinthe memory at least has sufficient memory to store a digitized image,the digitized image being selected from the group of a signature, aportrait, the at least one card, and a bar code; and wherein thecontroller operably stores the digitized image in the memory of thewallet consolidator.
 26. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 25,wherein the controller operably displays the digitized image on thedisplay screen to thereby define a displayed digitized image; andwherein the displayed digitized image is usable at the point-of-saleterminal.
 27. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 21, wherein thememory at least has sufficient memory to store a digitized image of abar code; and wherein the controller operably stores the digitized imageof a bar code in the memory of the wallet consolidator and operablydisplays the digitized image of a bar code on the display screen tothereby define a displayed digitized image of a bar code, the displayeddigitized image of a bar code being scannable by a bar code scanner. 28.A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 21, wherein the informationstored in the memory includes at least one bar code; and wherein thecontroller operably displays the bar code on the display screen tothereby define a displayed bar code image, the displayed bar code imagebeing scannable by a bar code scanner.
 29. A wallet consolidator asdefined in claim 21, wherein the one or more input devices furtherincludes a touch sensitive display screen associated with the displayscreen, associated with the housing, and positioned adjacent to the atleast one keypad.
 30. A wallet consolidator as defined in claim 29,wherein the at least one keypad comprises a first keypad; and whereinthe touch sensitive display screen includes a second keypad.